Thursday, December 24, 2015

The first time Stuart Stevens and his dad went to a Sugar Bowl it snowed. This was New Year's Day 1964. Stuart Stevens was 11 and a dyed-in-red-and-blue Ole Miss Rebel.

That Sugar Bowl matched the Rebels against Alabama. Bear Bryant coached Alabama. John Vaught coached Ole Miss. The Bear suspended star quarterback Joe Namath. But Bama, quarterbacked by future Ole Miss coach Steve Sloan, won anyway, 12-7, on four field goals and seemingly countless Ole Miss turnovers. The game was played outdoors, as football was meant to be played, at Tulane Stadium (heaven rest its soul, and it did have soul).

Young Stuart Stevens, cold and bitterly disappointed, cried. His dad, Jackson lawyer Phineas Stevens, comforted him. It is one of the really poignant scenes in Stuart's beautifully written book, The Last Season (Knopf, 2015).

Phineas and Stuart Stevens

Those who know me and/or have read my columns over the years, know I am the all-time sucker for good father/son stories, and Stevens' is one of the best.

That last season, which really wasn't, was the season of 2013. Stuart Stevens, then 60, was coming off another bitterly disappointing defeat, this one suffered by Mitt Romney to Barack Obama. Stevens had helped direct Romney's campaign.

He needed a timeout. He needed to heal. He needed to do something he loved with someone he loved. He went to North Carolina and found his 95-year-old father and posed the question: “What do you think about going to some Ole Miss football games this year?”

And so they did. The book tells the story of the 2013 season, as watched and eagerly devoured by a 60-year-old man and his 95-year-old father. But it tells much more than that.

It is a story about the shared love of father and son, a story of race, a story of the spell college football casts in the Deep South, a story of coming to grips with devastating defeat, and a story of growing up in Mississippi in the 1960s and all the conundrums inherent.

Stuart begins the book in 1962. Ole Miss is about to open the only perfect season in school history against the Kentucky in Jackson. There's a pre-game party at the Stevens' Belhaven home, replete with bootlegger whiskey. And, of course, there's a story there.

But the bigger story is from the game, which father and son left at halftime in the middle of Ross Barnett's infamous speech. Phineas Stevens could stomach no more.

Even a casual student of Mississippi history knows what followed: James Meredith, the riot at Ole Miss, the deaths, the 30,000 federal troops and the valiant Rebel football team — the one Vaught would call his favorite — winning every game in spite of it all.

Half a century later, Stuart Stevens documents the world of remarkable changes that have occurred in Mississippi in the lifetime of a father and his son.

When I caught up with Stuart Stevens this past weekend, he was in Laurel for a niece's wedding and his father's 98th birthday.

“Dad is doing wonderfully for 98,” Stuart said. “We had a great weekend.”

Father and son still share every Ole Miss game, mostly by cell phone and texting. Yes, they are excited about the upcoming Sugar Bowl, 52 years after the first one. They hope to attend.

“Dad wishes it was going to be played at Tulane Stadium; so do I,” Stuart Stevens said.

If Phineas Stevens sounds like an amazing man, he is. He is the only surviving founder of Butler, Snow, O'Mara, Stevens and Canada law firm, now Butler Snow. He was a freshman teammate of the great Bruiser Kinard, the only charter member of the College Football Hall of Fame, the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. Phineas Steven is the oldest surviving Ole Miss Alumni Hall of Famer, which he jokes he gets by default at his age.

He is also one prince of a dad, which you will learn when you read the book.

•••

Rick Cleveland (rcleveland@msfame.com) is executive director of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum.

Another vote that domes have ruined all outdoor sports played in them. Between all the foofoo foods and drinks they sell at ridiculous prices and the rap crap you have to listen to at halftime, there isn't much good to say about modern sports.

A friend and I went to Super Bowl IX in Jan. 1975, at Tulane Stadium. Steelers (Bradshaw, Franco Harris and the Steel Curtain) v. the Vikings (Tarkenton and the Purple People Eaters). Tickets were going for half-price on the street, or less. Cool and wet. The most boring event I have ever attended, mostly because of the looong timeouts for TV. This was to be the inaugural football game in the Dome, but it was not ready on time. The City That Care Forgot. That's not an indictment. I was glad to be outdoors. We stuck it out, then went to Casamentos and hit the raw bar. The memory of bad football games dwindles away quickly when you're dipping fat ones in ketchup, horseradish and Crystal. More saltines, please!

Who is the Hottest Reporter in Jackson?

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything). Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up. In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!